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My first solo exhibition at Johann van Heerden's Art Gallery

Taking a step back...

You have to realise that a LOT needed to happen first before I was even able to think of having a solo exhibition. In my honest humble opinion I was not totally ready for a solo exhibition at that stage. But I went for it anyway and worked harder than ever before.

The steps to a solo exhibition​

I had been living in Pretoria for a few of years already. At this stage of my life, I had fully focused on my role as an iOS developer and was heavily involved in coding. My life was pretty plain, and I would often just stay at home and work continuously. I didn't have a car at this stage which also made it easier to be a homebody. Covid restrictions had also only just started lifting, but I was still in full work mode.

By chance a friend asked me if I would like to come with them to a gallery. I hadn't been to a gallery in a number of years and it had been a long time since I had viewed art in real life. So I decided to go have a look.

He told me about JVH and I asked what is that? Then they had to explain that all the cool kids say JVH and the rest have to pronounce the long name, Johann van Heerden's art gallery.

When we got there I was surprised to find a gallery on a road I would often pass, without any realisation that it was a gallery. Stepping inside we were greeted by Miekie, whom at the time I had no idea how instumental she would be in helping me get interested in art again.